Sunday, May 06, 2012

Saudi Arabia's top religious official has blamed Muslim sinfulness
for instability in the Middle East, where pro-democracy unrest has
toppled four heads of state.

"The schism, instability, the malfunctioning of security and the
breakdown of unity that Islamic countries are facing these days is a
result of the sins of the public and their transgressions," Grand Mufti
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh was quoted as saying by al-Watan
newspaper.

In a Friday sermon, he accused "chaotic" people of wearing mask of
"democracy and equality" for actions leading to injustice and
instability within the umma, or Muslim nation.

Revolts that erupted last year have removed Arab autocrats in
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen and are still raging in Syria and
Bahrain. They gave voice to millions of people who suffered decades of
repression but have alarmed Gulf Arab rulers.

Ties between Riyadh and Cairo were strained by the fall of President
Hosni Mubarak, a close Saudi ally, and by the rising power of the Muslim
Brotherhood in Egypt, an organisation viewed with suspicion by many
Gulf governments.

On Friday an Egyptian delegation visited Saudi King Abdullah to
smooth a spat caused by protests at the Saudi embassy in Cairo, which
had led to the recall of the Saudi ambassador. The king later ordered
the envoy back Cairo and the embassy said he would return on Saturday.

Last month, the grand mufti was criticised after international media
quoted him as saying all churches in the Arabian Peninsula should be
destroyed, angering Christian bishops in Austria, Germany, and Russia.
The comments could not be verified by Saudi officials.